Unveiling a heretofor unseen defensive regard, Apple Sauce systematically dismantled a shaken Bruins squad to claim the B title. With the win, Apple Sauce ended the Bruins' multi-year B League stranglehold. The Apple Sauce championship was all the more improbable given that the Bruins stood a mere four seconds away from yet another championship in the previous title game.

This match played as a surprisingly low scoring affair through the first two periods. Remarkably, both teams diligently backchecked and maintained the gaps to clog the other's hi-octane offense. It was, however, Apple Sauce's will to remain committed to the team effort that ultimately turned the match. Disrupted by the constant Sauce pressure, the Bruins slowly became frustrated and strayed into more individual play. Apple Sauce seized upon the eventual ice openings and exploded for four goals in the middle of the third to stunningly break the mighty Bruins.

During the playoff, the Sauce displayed an dazzling array of offense weapons. The one who shone brightest was B League MVP Chris Ryan. Ryan, who scored a goal and helped on two others in this title game, played with an uncanny knack for the puck and flashed the finishing ability to lead the Sauce in playoff scoring.

B4 - Takin' it to the Limit - Apple Sauce forces winner-take-all with 6-5 nailbiter over GN-Bruins in double OT

Staring down the gremlins from playoffs past, the Klash survived a third period meltdown to seize the C League championship from the Scorpions in dramatic fashion. In earning their first LI Cup in four years, the Klash successfully completed the four game firewalk through the losers bracket.

With nine minutes to go, the Klash netted an apparent cherry-on-top to take a 6-2 lead. They had methodically and patiently attacked the Scorpions to seemingly put a stranglehold on the match. The game turned, however, on a needless penalty. The Scorpions quickly capitalized, and remarkably the ice tilted. The Scorpions swarmed the Klash goal and scored again with six to go. The Klash, back on their heels, suddenly became passive and had trouble getting past center ice. The Scorpions scored again with two to go. The Klash, staggering like a drunken sailor, now couldn't get the puck out their zone. The Scorpions pulled their goalie, assailed the net, and amidst a goalmouth rugby scrum potted the tying goal with 25 ticks to tock.

Compounding the turmoil, the reeling Klash entered ovetime down a man. Alas, it is often in dire straits that signature moments arise. There's "The Catch", "The Drive" and now "The Rush". Seizing the moment a mere 50 seconds into OT, C League MVP Paul Bellard gathered the puck behind his own net, bulled his way through the defensive zone, sped through the neutral zone, streaked wide around the defense, and snuck one past to deliver the C League title that only minutes earlier appeared lost.

Shaking off a Stars' three goal rally, the Vultures scored a third period powerplay goal to squash the the upset-minded Stars and claim the D1 title 4-3. The championship is the organization's second Long Island Cup and their first D1 win.

The Vultures jumped the Stars from the drop, scoring twice in the first two minutes. They later stretched their first period lead to 3-0, and this match appeared a blowout. The Stars, however, gamely rallied with three second period goals, and the game turned into a physical battle.

The Vultures offense, led this postseason by D1 League MVP Steve Vitararos is predicated on pressure. Pressure elicits mistakes and just two minutes into the third, the Vultures drew the fateful powerplay. It was on this man-advantage that John Barker potted the title clincher. En route to the trophy ceremony, the Vultures continued to pressure the offensive zone to limit the Stars' fleeting chances.

Dominant from the drop, Mayhem's up tempo attack ultimately proved too much en route to 3-1 D2 championshp win. With the win, Mayhem stamped their name on the Long ISalnd Cup for the first time.

Mayhem unleashed the offense straight from the locker room. They relentlessly stormed the PLT end and hailed rubber upon PLT netminder Steve Distefano. Distefano was equal to the task. He turned away the first 22 Mayhem shots (and 36 total) before one snuck by him with four minutes remaining in the second. Two minutes later, Mayhem scored again to forge a seemingly insurmountable 2-0 lead.

However, these tilted games kept close by a goaltender can get dicey. Sure enough, PLT mounted an early third period charge and narrowed the score to 2-1. Energized, PLT continued to pressure Mayhem's end but they could not rattle the steady hand of D2 League MVP Carl Guarino. Guarino, rock solid between the pipes throughout the playoff, calmly stood firm and turned away all remaining PLT chances.

Exploding for four third period goals, the Bruisers survived a madcap third period to emerge as E1 champions. With the 5-4 victory, the Bruisers raised the club's first Long Island Cup.

The Bruisers trailed 2-1 heading into the third but quickly tied it just 25 seconds into the final stanza. Three minutes later, E1 League MBVP Greg Bretton, who led the Bruisers in playoff scoring, ripped the biscuit top shelf to forge a lead the Bruisers would not relinquish. The Bruisers quickly scored twice more in the following 90 seconds to build a seemingly insurmountable lead. The Cyclones, though, would not go quietly. In a furious rally, in which they pumped 12 shots at net, the Cyclones closed to 5-4 with under a minute remaining to scare the new champs.

Staving off a furious Mustang third period rally, the Raging Bulls scored early and hung on for a 4-2 victory and the E2 championshp. With the win, the Raging Bulls buried nine seasons and four years of futility to raise the Long Island Cup for the first time.

Playing with focus and purpose, the Raging Bulls staked a 2-0 first period lead and appeared in control through the second. When they found the net again six minutes into the third to make it 3-0, the big lady was loosening the corks. But, alas, as with almost all clubs' first championship, nails get short and drama descends. An ill-advised hi-stick penalty with seven minutes to go resulted in two quick Mustang goals. Revitalized, the Mustangs stormed the Bulls zone and blizted E2 league MVP Vinny Winsky. Winsky, who gamely endured through the dark years, simply refused to yield. He made several title saving stops down the stretch, including one heart-stopping glove snatch from his knees.

Continuing their previous crisp playoff efforts, Klash-30 controlled much of this title match and sailed to a 5-1 30C championship win over the Pioneers. With the victory, the Klash avenged their fall championship loss to the Pioneers.

Spearheading the Klash playoff charge was their stout defense. The Klash blueliners stifled the Pioneer attack for much of the game and was especially effective in shutting down the Pioneers potent first line. The Klash offense was led by 3C League MVP Don "Big Daddy" Lewis. Lewis, who scored in each playoff game, netted two including the pivotal insurance tally middle of the third which stretched a slim 2-1 lead.

Displaying a steeled iron will, the Rams refused to yield and scored twice late to yank the 3D crown from the Bucs 7-6. On the road to their first Long Island Cup, the Rams weathered three overtimes and three lose-or-go-home matches.

This championship match was a classic nip-and-tucker throughout. The game saw four lead changes with neither team forging more than a one goal lead. Atypically, the offenses freely skated up and down with each team scoring four times apiece in just the first 17 minutes. Neither defense could stem the frantic pace and four minutes into the third the Bucs emerged with a 6-5 lead.

At this point, the Bucs, rich in playoff titles and veteran saavy, seemed poised to close out the upstart Rams. Predictably, they closed ranks and settled the game down. Suddenly, Rams shots become hard to come by and the Rams grew increasingly frustrated. The Rams, however, had skated through a gaunlet to get to this point with a different player providing the heroics. Cue 3D League MVP John Thatcher . Thatcher, who scored the Rams fifth goal, imposed his will to score an unassisted game tying goal with 3:16 to go. He then completed the "Messier" when he rang the championship bell with just 27 seconds remaining as he capitalized on a failed, fateful Bucs clear.

Capping an improbable playoff run, the Wolverines shut down the Tribe for much of the game and garnered their first Long Island Cup championship. With the 3E title victory, the Wolverines put behind the stink of their painful championship loss last fall.

The Wolverines, who needed a last game overtime win to just make the playoffs, put forth another virtuoso playoff performance. As in their previous playoff matches, they controlled both offensively and defensively. Offensively, they were again led by 3E League MVP Greg Miller. Miller, who scored more than half of the Wolverine's playoff tallies, had both a goal and helper in this decisive game. Defensively, as per usual, the Wolverines were backboned by Tom Fellner's stellar goaltending.